Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

What is FERPA?

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and is a federal law that was enacted in 1974. FERPA protects the privacy of student education records. All educational institutions that receive federal funding must comply with FERPA.

In primary and secondary educational institutions (i.e. K-12), all FERPA rights belong to the parent. However, when the student reaches the age of 18 or begins to attend a post-secondary institution regardless of age, all FERPA rights transfer to the student.

If you're a student, it's important for you to understand your rights under FERPA. If you're a parent, you'll need to understand how the law changes once your student enters a post-secondary institution. If you're a University employee, you'll need to understand what information can and cannot be released, and the appropriate procedures for release of student information.

University Policy

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What are students' rights under FERPA?

Eligible students have four primary rights under FERPA including the right to:

1. inspect their education records,
2. consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent,
3. seek correction of their records, to prevent inaccurate or misleading information, and
4. file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they feel their rights are being violated.

• The Release of Information Authorization form is used by students to authorize the University to disclose education records that are otherwise protected under FERPA.

Release of Information Authorization

• The FERPA Hold Request form is used by currently enrolled students to request that the University not release any "directory information". In accordance with the FERPA Policy, currently enrolled students may request that the University not release any "directory information" by submitting a FERPA Hold Request form. Please consider this request carefully as this will limit the University's ability to communicate with you.

FERPA Hold Request

• The FERPA Hold Removal form is used to rescind a FERPA hold. If you are not a current student and are unable to log into your Missouri State account and wish to submit a FERPA Hold Removal form, please contact the Office of the Registrar at Registrar@MissouriState.edu to request a .pdf form.

FERPA Hold Removal request

• The People Search website is the University's official directory of students, faculty, and staff. A request to exclude information from People Search may be completed by currently enrolled students. To be removed from anything other than People Search, including the Outlook Address Book, a FERPA hold must be completed. Read more about People Search and your options regarding display of your information.

Request to exclude information from People Search

• The Letter of Recommendation Authorization form is used by students to authorize a University employee to include personally identifiable information (such as grades, GPA, etc.) in a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation which are made from the recommender’s personal observation or knowledge do not require a written release from the student who is the subject of the recommendation. However, if the student wishes the recommender to include personally identifiable information from a student’s education record (such as grades, GPA, etc.), the student must provide a signed release.

Letter of Recommendation Authorization

• The Acknowledgement of Confidentiality Regulations form may be used as a written agreement for any employee (i.e., full-time, part-time, student) who has access to private/confidential information. Acknowledgment of Confidentiality Regulations is a standardized form a department may use as a written agreement for an employee (full-time, part-time, student) who has access to confidential student information. Return completed and signed form to your immediate supervisor. Do not return form to the Office of the Registrar.

Acknowledgement of Confidentiality Regulations

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FERPA contact list

• Angela Young - Registrar
• Rebecca Harbaugh - Associate Registrar, Operations
• Julia Holmes - Deputy Compliance Officer, Legal Affairs and Compliance
• Rachael Dockery - General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer